Brian and Charles (PG) 
Directed by Jim Archer 
★★★

THIS surreal comedy set in Wales about a lonely inventor who builds an AI robot as his friend may well prove an acquired taste but it is worth while seeing it with an open mind.

Based on a 2017 short of the same name also directed by Jim Archer and co-written by David Earl and Chris Hayward this is a bonkers, yet sweet and charming bromance tale shot in a mockumentary style.

Earl plays the rather depressed Brian who creates Charles (Hayward) out of a washing machine and a disturbing plastic head he found discarded in rubbish. Charles, who becomes a fast learner, takes on a life and personality of his own. What is fascinating and bizarre is that like Brian you soon perceive him as a real being with his distinctive robotic voice and his own thoughts as he transforms from infant to bolshie teenager.

There is a hilarious montage where the two bond at home which includes them pillow-fighting at bedtime with Charles dressed in red and white striped pyjamas. Through their strange friendship Charles becomes very simpatico and you feel for him when he is captured by the local town bully (Jamie Michie).

With knockout performances from Earl and Hayward the film treads a fine line between comedy and drama as it examines loneliness, friendship and love and loss. 
It is quirky, very left field but surprisingly heart-warming and definitely worth watching.

Out in cinemas July 8

Thor: Love and Thunder (12A)
Directed by Taika Waititi 
★★★

Following on from Avengers: Endgame Taika Waititi’s Thor sequel shows how the god of thunder regained his mojo going from dad/sad bod to god bod in another entertaining super hero romp. 

Chris Hemsworth returns practically baring all as Thor, who teams up with his ex Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), turns into The Mighty Thor, Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) and Korg (Waititi) to stop the evil Gorr (Christian Bale channelling his inner Voldemort) from killing every god in existence.

Full of laughs, running gags (some funnier than others) and Thor having to confront his past feelings and hurt over Foster, who is battling her own demons, this contains more emotion and heart than expected as it delves into love and loss.

Not quite in the same league as the first Thor film it is still a fun filled, action packed enjoyable ride with some hilarious cameos. Hemsworth is back in fit form with Portman as a formidable Mighty Thor. While Russell Crowe gloriously hams it up as Zeus going all Italiano.

The all habitual extra scenes during the end credits provide more intriguing food for thought. 

Out in cinemas July 7

Rubikon (15)
Directed by Magdalena Lauritsch 
★★★

Set in 2056, the inhabitants of a space station have a front row view to the end of humanity as the Earth suffers an extinction event. What do they do? Risk their own lives to return home and save the survivors, or stay safe on board the station with their oxygen producing algae?

Writer-director Magdalena Lauritsch’s debut feature poses a difficult moral conundrum within a solid, intense and gripping sci fi thriller driven by fine performances from its multi national cast Julia Franz Richter, George Blagden and Mark Ivanir.

It is a film which raises the environmental crisis that desperately needs to be addressed right now in a setting in which the big corporations rule the world. It is only the rich and privileged who have access to life saving bunkers.

Though fairly predictable it is a decent space thriller. 

Available on digital platforms from July 11

How To Please A Woman 
Directed by Renee Webster  
★★★

The complexities of ageing and exploring sexual pleasure after 50 are at the heart of this engaging, laugh-out-loud Australian comedy and hugely enjoyable debut feature by Renee Webster.

Based on a true story it follows Gina (Sally Phillips), who having lost her job after turning the big 5-0, buys a removal company and turns it into an all-male house cleaning business offering sex on the side and vice versa. 

Without playing it for laughs this is both hilarious and poignant plus surprisingly grounded. It is full of believable female characters that look like ordinary women in their forties and fifties rather than super models. They are all anxious to have good sex and orgasms because life and your sexual desires do not end in middle age as Good Luck to You, Leo Grande also showed.

Phillips, spouting an Aussie accent, is tremendous as this smart yet vulnerable woman whose husband has not touched her in years and finds herself rediscovering her own sexuality.

While her sex workers are played brilliantly by Alexander England, Ryan Johnson and Josh Thompson who portray this touching vulnerability as they hone in on their cleaning skills. 

Webster, who is definitely one to watch, delivers a total blast but also a serious conversation starter between women and their partners.

Out on Sky Cinema and Now TV July 8